The Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC) was established by the chief executive officers of the Department of Education (DoE), Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) and Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) assists Queensland schools to meet their legal obligations under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes – 8^th Edition 2013 (the Code).

To ensure that schools comply with the legislation, the QSAEC:

• approves guidelines, including standard operating procedures, for the care and scientific use of animals in schools
• reviews applications and approves only those proposed activities that are ethically acceptable and conform to the requirements of the Code
• conducts follow-up review of approved activities
• monitors the care and use of animals, including housing conditions, practices and procedures involved in the care of animals in facilities, and allows the continuation of approval for only those that conform to the requirements of the Code
• takes appropriate actions regarding unexpected adverse events
• takes appropriate actions regarding non-compliance.

The three Queensland school sectors (DoE, QCEC and ISQ) work together to establish consistent and quality practices for the use of animals in Queensland schools and set clear boundaries regarding reporting, approval and compliance.

For further information about animal welfare standards and processes for the use of animals in education can be found here. Various forms and publications can be found here.